News Archive
5/6/2024
Do We Finally Know Why Avonlea Children's Home In Wick Was Closed?
The closure of the Avonlea children's home In Wick has been shrouded in secrecy since December 2022. A report to the Audit committee for the meeting on 13 June 2024 might give some clues although the home is not named.5/6/2024
Scottish Government Introduces Pay Rise For Public Sector Employees
The Scottish government has implemented a pay rise for public sector employees worth an average of 9.3% over the next three years. The 2024-25 Public sector pay policy details a framework for pay increases for civil servants and other public sector workers.
5/6/2024
Conservative Government Claims They Are Low Tax But The Truth Is Taxes At Highest Levels Since WW2
The Institute for Fiscal Studies report looking at the economy 2010 - 2024 nails it once again - taxes are higher than ever under the Conservatives. The National Insurance cuts are outweighed by freezing allowances until 2027/28 - so called Fiscal Drag The biggest tax rise of the 2019 to 2024 parliament, though, came about through the freezing of income tax and National Insurance thresholds, initially for four years (announced by Mr Sunak as chancellor in 2021) and extended to six by Mr Hunt.5/6/2024
Recruiting And Retaining Childminders - Not in Highland and Other Areas
Plans to grow Scotland's childminding workforce by 1,000 and provide more support to childminders have been announced. Backed by more than £1m Scottish Government funding, the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) will scale up their successful childminder recruitment pilot programme across the country, starting with 16 local authority areas.5/6/2024
Highland Council Audit Committee To Discuss Fraud and Whistleblowing
On 13 June 2024 the Audit committee of highland council will give councillors a chance to examine Frauds and Whistle blowing in the ear ended 31 March 2024. The report lists the numbers of frauds and actions taken including reporting to the Procurator Fiscal for consideration of criminal proceeding in court.
5/6/2024
Election Special - The UK Economy Since 2008 | Ifs Zooms In
Since 2008, the UK economy has faced a series of shocks and challenges, leaving the next government with a difficult task. From low growth to falling living standards, we ask what structural problems the next government faces.
5/6/2024
National Engagement On NHS Reform - Or Fob Us Off With Even More Research Programmes
A national programme of engagement will take place over the next year to inform Scottish Government plans for health and social care reform. Through a series of direct engagements with the workforce, service leaders, royal colleges, third sector groups and the people of Scotland, the Scottish Government will collect views on how best to transform services to meet changing demands.5/6/2024
Election 2024 - Polling Shows Voters Don't Believe The Tax Pledges - Here's How The Numbers Stack Up
The two main parties contesting the UK general election have been unusually cautious on their spending plans, despite urgent calls for more public funding to tackle crises in housing, social care and the environment. While they have pledged not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, they have refrained from promising tax cuts, despite evidence of these helping to sway past elections.
5/6/2024
Progress in tackling child poverty
The Scottish Government is estimated to have invested almost £1.4 billion to benefit children in low income households in the last financial year. Awarding almost £430 million to families through the Scottish Child Payment, supporting more than 329,000 children as of 31 March 2024.5/6/2024
Voters Are Not Stupid - They Know Lower Taxes Probably Mean Cuts To Services
Speak to any councillor on any council and they will how service cuts over the last few years are down to government squeezing budgets whether in Scotland or England. so any talk of cutting taxes should come with a health warning and statement of what services will be reduced.4/6/2024
Post Office Horizon It Inquiry: Former Chief Financial Officer Chris Day Gives Evidence
The Horizon enquiry live on Youtube. .
4/6/2024
The Royal College Of Nursing Congress 2024 Is Underway - Politicians Beware As The Nurses Highlight The Problems
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) annual congress is underway running from 2nd to 6 June 2024. Already for politicians they have set out difficult questions on the health service and the Tory government in charge for 13 years are struggling to answer.4/6/2024
Ukraine War - Why Central Asian Countries Want To Move Away From Russian Control
The terrorist attack on Moscow's Crocus City Hall in March 2024, which left 140 people dead, has sparked a crackdown on central Asian workers living in Russia, and put the relationship between the region and Russia under increasing strain. The four suspected gunmen under arrest are all citizens of Tajikistan, a central Asian nation that was once part of the Soviet Union.
4/6/2024
UK And Latvia Launch Industry Competition To Provide Thousands Of Drones For Ukraine
The drones will be procured as part of the Drone Capability Coalition for Ukraine, co-led by the UK and Latvia. In February, the UK and Latvia announced that they would lead the new Drone Capability Coalition, designed to rapidly supply Ukraine with tens of thousands of first person view drones.4/6/2024
Which Conservative MPs Would Lose Their Seats Under Yougov Poll? | Election 2024
The polls just keep getting worse for the Conservatives..
3/6/2024
The UK Has A Growing Food Black Market - And It's Making The Cost Of Living Crisis Worse
The UK food sector has faced its fair share of challenges, and issues around supply are not uncommon. In the year to January 2024, overall food prices rose by 7%.
3/6/2024
Higher Loan-to-value Mortgages Pulled From Sale
Despite a more subdued period for the mortgage market last week, the latest analysis by Moneyfactscompare.co.uk reveals a handful of lenders pulled higher loan-to-value deals. Last week, a few lenders moved to pull some fixed deals at 90% and 95% loan-to-value (LTV).3/6/2024
Regional conference on digital technology and anti-corruption
The UK is proud to support the work of authorities across the Pacific who are working to challenge the threat posed by corruption and money laundering. A three-day conference has commenced in Fiji, with discussions focused on the role that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can play in the fight against corruption across the Pacific.
3/6/2024
How Many MPs Are Standing Down At The Election?
As of 16:00 on 31 May 2024, 135 MPs have announced that they will not stand again at the election on 4 July. MPs intending to stand again have until 4pm on 7 June to deliver their nomination papers and so it is likely that further announcements will follow in the coming days.
2/6/2024
